TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Rachel Johnson, Chief of Police
Kelly Benjamin, Traffic Lieutenant
Michael Boyes, Acting Traffic Sergeant
Julie Dahlgren, Senior Management Analyst
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of a Resolution Accepting the State of California Office of Traffic Safety Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant in the Amount of $53,000 (Not Budgeted) (Police Chief Johnson).
A) ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 26-0108
B) APPROPRIATE FUNDS
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 26-0108 to accept the State of California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant in the amount of $53,000. Additionally, it is recommended to appropriate $53,000 in General Fund expenditures with a corresponding adjustment to revenues to accept the grant reimbursement from the State of California.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
With the approval of the State of California OTS grant agreement, an appropriation of $53,000 in the General Fund is needed for expenditures, along with a matching adjustment to revenues to accept the reimbursement from the State of California. A Project Budget and Expenditure Summary is included in the attached grant agreement. The grant will fully reimburse overtime, training, and equipment expenses related to the grant activities.
BACKGROUND:
Since 2017, the Police Department has applied for and been awarded over $650,000 in grant funding from the OTS to support the City’s efforts to improve traffic safety and reduce traffic collisions. Grant-funded activities include training, Driving while Under the Influence (DUI) checkpoints, enhanced traffic safety enforcement in areas where drivers frequently speed, and enhanced distracted driving education and enforcement operations.
DISCUSSION:
In 2026, the Manhattan Beach Police Department applied for and was awarded a $53,000 grant from the OTS to continue providing enhanced traffic enforcement and education. The performance period of the grant is October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027.
Grant funding provides training to officers in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement. Grant activities also include conducting DUI checkpoints and special enforcement operations, providing concentrated enforcement in areas where drivers frequently speed and intersections where traffic collisions often occur, conducting pedestrian and bicycle safety details, conducting distracted driving education and enforcement operations, and promoting community awareness and education about traffic laws.
In order to finalize the City’s acceptance of this grant, staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 26-0108 and appropriate $53,000 in General Fund expenditures with a corresponding adjustment to revenues.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
Traffic safety-related educational messaging and enforcement details will be publicized on the Police Department and City social media accounts, and via press releases. Publicizing the grant activities brings heightened awareness to traffic laws and enhances the overall effectiveness of our education and enforcement efforts.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed the grant agreement and approved it as to form.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 26-0108
2. Agreement - California Office of Traffic Safety